Hot chicken salad is a delicious twist on a classic recipe – juicy chicken, crisp celery, creamy mayo – baked until bubbly, it’s topped with melty cheese and crunchy potato chips!
Hot Chicken Salad Casserole
This hot chicken salad takes your favorite flavors and transforms them into a warm, cheesy delight. Packed with juicy chicken, crunchy celery, and creamy mayo (just like the classic!), it gets a flavorful upgrade with a melty cheese and crisp potato chip topping. Baked until bubbly and golden, it’s the perfect way to turn leftover chicken into an unexpected dish!
Traditional chicken salad is one of my favorite foods and I make it often. But up until now, I had always made the chilled, cold kind.
Then I found this hot chicken salad recipe in Granny’s recipe box. It has a similar list of ingredients to cold chicken salad, but in the end the mixture is topped with cheese and potato chips and baked until hot throughout.
I was very happy with the results!
The chicken mixture was creamy and flavorsome, and the crunch of the chips and cheese complimented it perfectly. While I recommend some sides, I actually loved it all on its own.
The first time I tried this hot chicken salad, I just ate it with some crackers on the side. That was great but I thought it would be even better with some warm crusty bread. Warm crusty bread on the side elevated it to new heights!
This salad is simple to prepare, uses easy to find ingredients, and can be prepared in less than half an hour. If you are using a whole chicken such as a rotisserie chicken, you can easily double this recipe.
This versatile recipe can be served like an entrée with a salad and bread on the side. Or you can serve it like a dip with crackers or crudities. This is a great appetizer to serve at bridal showers, baby showers, or any occasion that calls for hearty snacks.
Hot chicken salad is a great quick easy to prepare dinner or lunch or a fun dish to take to a potluck. It’s delicious right out of the oven or warmed up the next day. This recipe takes all the familiar flavors you love and transforms them into a hot and bubbly masterpiece! Topped with melty cheese and a crave-worthy crunch of potato chips, it’s comfort food at its finest! — Sara
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
- 1 cup sliced celery
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons minced onion
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed potato chips
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Helpful Kitchen Tools
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (except chips and cheese) in a large bowl.
- Measure out the cheese and chips in a separate bowl.
- Place the chicken mixture into an oven safe baking dish and top with the shredded cheese and crushed potato chips.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Prep Tips
- The mayonnaise matters. The first time I made it, I used a store brand of mayonnaise I had in my refrigerator. The next time, I used my favorite brand of mayonnaise, and the result was much better! Use your favorite mayonnaise for the best flavor!
- You can absolutely customize this recipe. I love the simplicity and the taste of the onions and celery. But I have seen versions with pimentos, red peppers, water chestnuts, chopped eggs, and/or pecans instead of sliced almonds. Feel free to add your favorite chicken salad mix-ins!
- For the chips, I went with a plain regular chip. The first time I made this recipe, the chip part got a little too brown. So, I reduced the heat and increased the cooking time a bit in my adaptation of Granny’s recipe.
- Serve with: green salad, sliced veggies, crackers, or on bread as a sandwich.
More Easy Casserole Recipes To Try
- Corn Casserole
- Cheesy Celery Root Casserole
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Swiss Green Bean Casserole
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Spinach Rice Casserole
Hot Chicken Salad Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Hot Chicken Salad
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- 8x11 inch Oven-safe baking dish
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken chopped
- 2 cups sliced celery
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 1 cup mayonaise
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed potato chips
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (except chips and cheese) in a large bowl.
- Measure out the cheese and chips in a separate bowl.
- Place the chicken mixture into an oven safe baking dish and top with the shredded cheese and crushed potato chips.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Loved this recipe it’s just like how my grandmother used to make it!!
Love to hear that! One of my favorite parts about creating this website is preserving those special recipes from past generations. – Stacey